Was there ever a general consensus on if the "EX" on the tops of the turrets were black or red?

I'm afraid not yet! The red version seems to have emerged from Profile Morskie, but I have no idea on what evidence this was based. As far as I'm concerned David Hogues version in black looks more credible although less colourful to me.

And to add to the confusion: here we have a picture with the "EX" only on the rear turret, and in white apparently!

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_________________"There are more planes in the ocean, than submarines in the sky" - old carrier sailor

Maarteen, interesting photo of Exeter with the white "EX." Can't make out if the aircraft is a Fairey IIIF or a Hawker Osprey but, either way, prewar.

Speaking of aircraft: Exeter had York's Walrus at River Plate, but was it camouflaged or silver?

I believe the embarked Walruses were still in silver paint by that time, and all photo's I've seen of Walrusses on HMS Exeter support that. There was simply not the opportunity to exchange them for camouflaged examples. It's just a peculiarity like the bronze eagle still being on the stern of DKM Graf Spee at that time, although the order had been given to remove all these peacetime markings.The aircraft on the previous picture seem to be Seafoxes to me, as Ospreys had a longer engine compartment.

Maarten's aerial photo is one held by the RAF Museum - for which gettyimages seems to be able to charge at least £150! Copy online at https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/ne ... /159136974. gettyimages' caption says it was taken in 1933, well before the Seafox first flew. The caption says the aircraft are Ospreys, which she did carry in 1933. The Seafox's nose was rectangular in side view - the nearest aircraft has a pointed nose like an Osprey.

Late 39 to approx. mid 40 silver.Perhaps there is a site listing the movements of RAF naval co-operation aircraft similar to `ADF Serials? The aircraft were regularly rotated depending on other operational requirements, damage sustained or maintenance due.Oddly enough silver examples of Walrus appear to still have been in service late 41, perhaps because they were behind the times in the East Indies and China stations.The portside image of Exeter which I believe is early 42 in Colombo shows she has an embarked silver, but she also embarked rotated aircraft late 41 which were in camouflage.

Maarteen, interesting photo of Exeter with the white "EX." Can't make out if the aircraft is a Fairey IIIF or a Hawker Osprey but, either way, prewar.

Speaking of aircraft: Exeter had York's Walrus at River Plate, but was it camouflaged or silver?

I believe the embarked Walruses were still in silver paint by that time, and all photo's I've seen of Walrusses on HMS Exeter support that. There was simply not the opportunity to exchange them for camouflaged examples. It's just a peculiarity like the bronze eagle still being on the stern of DKM Graf Spee at that time, although the order had been given to remove all these peacetime markings.The aircraft on the previous picture seem to be Seafoxes to me, as Ospreys had a longer engine compartment.

Speaking about the Walruses: I started to look more closely into the catapults they must sit on. To my disappointment Trumpeter didn't quite succeed in making something that could pass. The contraption really should look something like this:

Trumpy's cats do not seem quite right, but they are the correct length of 47 ft, the early version. I will think whether I will start modifying these, or scratch built new ones myself.

Wouldn't it be time for a correct PE or 3D printed version of the MacTaggart Scott catapults in 1/350 and 1/700 scale? Both the long and the short versions please! Someone from the PE/3D producers listening to this? I have more documentation gathered!

_________________"There are more planes in the ocean, than submarines in the sky" - old carrier sailor

At the River Plate, the Exeter's Walruses were indeed still in the pre war silver grey paint scheme (as was the Exeter for that matter) but had the large numbers on the nose painted out and replaced by the two letter/one number code on the side of the fin. The Ajax's Seafox was in cammo though.

At the River Plate, the Exeter's Walruses were indeed still in the pre war silver grey paint scheme (as was the Exeter for that matter) but had the large numbers on the nose painted out and replaced by the two letter/one number code on the side of the fin. The Ajax's Seafox was in cammo though.

Hi David,

Thanks for your comment! Very useful. Do you happen to have any photos showing these fin numbers? Or what these codes were at that time? On the pics of your model they are't really visible.

At the time of the River Plate action, Exeter's Walrus (Walri?) belonged to 718 Sq, whose unit code was C9. Two aircraft said to have been jettisoned before the battle were K8341 and K8343, but the latter was later recorded elsewhere. Another Exeter example was K8557 which is not recorded after 11.39, it being acknowledged as lost in 6.40. (i.e acknowledged in June 1940 as being lost at some unknown time before that.) However the individual codes do not seem to have been recorded.

PS I wrote too soon. There is a photo in Stuart Lloyd's Fleet Air Arm Camouflage and Markings (Dalrymple and Verdun 2008) showing K8560 being manoeuvred on Exeter's catapult, summer 1939, and she is coded on the lower fin as shown N9 FK8560 was recorded on Exeter until 12.39, and later with another unit. N9 was allocated to the 8th Cruiser squadron 1939/40 but was considered "not used?" Clearly it was.

At the time of the River Plate action, Exeter's Walrus (Walri?) belonged to 718 Sq, whose unit code was C9. Two aircraft said to have been jettisoned before the battle were K8341 and K8343, but the latter was later recorded elsewhere. Another Exeter example was K8557 which is not recorded after 11.39, it being acknowledged as lost in 6.40. (i.e acknowledged in June 1940 as being lost at some unknown time before that.) However the individual codes do not seem to have been recorded.

PS I wrote too soon. There is a photo in Stuart Lloyd's Fleet Air Arm Camouflage and Markings (Dalrymple and Verdun 2008) showing K8560 being manoeuvred on Exeter's catapult, summer 1939, and she is coded on the lower fin as shown N9 FK8560 was recorded on Exeter until 12.39, and later with another unit. N9 was allocated to the 8th Cruiser squadron 1939/40 but was considered "not used?" Clearly it was.

Super info, Graham! Where did you find this all??

_________________"There are more planes in the ocean, than submarines in the sky" - old carrier sailor

Mainly from two books from Air Britain, one is The Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm - I used the second edition but the third is recently available and it does acknowledge the use of N9+ on the Walrus. The other is Fleet Air Arm Aircraft 1939-45 which gives the known history of every single airframe operated by the Navy. They were mainly credited to the late Ray Sturtivant. A second edition of this is being worked on currently.

The site has "corrected" my text: the N in the code should be positioned centrally above the other two digits.